TSDL Premier League 17th March 2024 Match Reports
Peake Villa 3 – 0 Clonmel Celtic
After all the rain the last few days, there was a break in the weather Sunday morning for this league encounter, and the Villa staff had the pitch in fine order for the game, which Villa needed to win, after some poor results in recent weeks. The first half was a cagey affair with both defences on top, limiting the chances to a few for both sides. The hosts had the best chance of the half when a Keith Cahill cross in front of the goal deceived everyone, but the keeper parried it to keep it out. The second half was only a minute old when the home side finally took the lead. A great cross by Kieren Hennessy was met by the head of Ronan McGuire, and his header was unstoppable finding the top corner. They completely took control after this, creating some good chances, but unable to extend the lead. And they almost paid for their profligacy when Celtic nearly found an equaliser in the sixty sixth minute from the penalty spot, but the spot kick was well saved by David Purcell, in the Villa goal to keep it at one nil. That scare was enough to make the champions kick on, and four minutes later a free kick into the area by Keith Cahill, found the head of Evan McCormack, went back across the box and Kieren Hennessy was first to react to score from close in, and give his side some breathing space. They saw out the final twenty minutes comfortably enough and deep into injury time, Ronan McGuire made a great run and found Kieren Hennessy who made no mistake scoring his second of the day to make it three and ensure the points were staying at the Tower Grounds.
Two Mile Borris 2 – 1 Clonmel Town
Borris won a massive three points in this tie to move out of the relegation zone for the first time this season, when they came up with a late winner to deny a Clonmel Town side who were hoping to go on a mini run of victories themselves. The game was exciting, with both teams forging plenty of chances in the early minutes, but it took until just before the half hour mark, for one of those to count. The homes side Urban Nolan picked up a ball forty yards from goal out on the left hand side, cut inside and flashed an unstoppable shot to the net to the delight of the home support. The game became a midfield battle after this, and there were no more goals in the first period. The hosts started the better in the second half, and should have extended their lead, with Danny Rafter having two excellent chances, but being denied on both occasions by the Clonmel net minder. Eventually Town got back into the game fifteen minutes from time, when after good work in the middle of the pitch, Darragh Cronin flashed home a low shot to the corner of the net. The final destination of the points were up in the air at this point, but Town looked more likely and were doing most of the attacking. But three minutes from time, they over extended their attack and got caught on the break. Urban Nolan raced up field on a breakaway attack and found Lewis Kearney, who was fouled in the Town area. Anto Walker stood up to take the penalty, and made no mistake. Stunned by the turnaround, Town threw everything at the home side for the final five minutes but Borris held on to take the precious points.
St Michael’s 1 – 0 Bansha Celtic
Saints took all three points here in a game that never rose to any great heights in the Premier League in Cooke Park on St Patrick’s Day. Both teams had chances in the early part of the game, with Aido Walsh having to be smart in the fifth minute, to parry away a Shane Egan free kick. The home side then tested Kelvin O’Brien in the Bansha goal on a number of occasions, before they finally made a breakthrough in the thirty third minute, when Colin Bargary’s cross found Rhys O’Regan unmarked in the area, and he headed home from close range. Cillian Coonan saw his goal bound shot blocked minutes later, after a wonderful Rhys O’Regan run through the visitor’s midfield, but in the end, there were no more goals in the half. Veteran Jimmy Carr looked to have done everything right three minutes into the second period beating a number of players but his finish went wide of goal. Bargary had an effort saved by O’Brien just before the hour mark, after good work by Carr, as the Saints tried hard to get a second goal that would have made the game more comfortable. In the end, they didn’t need it, as the tie petered out, into a dull finish, leaving the hosts firmly in charge of the destination of this year’s TSDL Premier League title.
TSDL Second Division 17th March 2024 Match Reports
Rosegreen Rangers 2 – 4 St Nicholas
Rosegreen were left rooted to the bottom of the Second Division table after going down to St Nicholas at home Sunday morning in Nijinsky Park. The game was a lively one, with plenty of goals, and the home team started well, going a goal up in the tenth minute when Luke Quinlan fired home from just inside the Saint’s area. But they only managed to hold onto that lead for five minutes, and the visitors equalised with a well worked move, that was finished to the net by Aaron Ryan Shiner. Quinlan restored the home sides lead on the half hour mark, and they looked like they were going to go to the break in front, but a lapse in concentration allowed the Solohead side to equalise once again, when Eoin O Riordan popped up in the area and made no mistake from six yards. This gave the away side the momentum going into the second half, and they had the best of the chances without converting, until twenty minutes from the end, when they finally broke down the stubborn home defence and got their noses in front with another goal by Shiner. Rosegreen were forced to come out in search of an equaliser, and five minutes from time they were caught on the break, with the away side adding a fourth when Riordan also got a second goal, and assured his side of all three points.
Peter O Reilly Cup, 17th March 2024 Match Reports
Cahir Park 1 – 2 Donohill and District
Donohill booked their spot in the semi final of this years Peter O Reilly Cup when they travelled to Cahir and won by the odd goal in three in a lively game at the weekend. The home side started better and almost scored in the second minute, only to be denied by a brilliant save from the visiting keeper. But the away side soon settled and hit the front in the tenth minute with a goal by Dinny Crosse, who finished to the net from six yards out. But the home side continued to make chances and found themselves level seven minutes before half time when David Clifford poked the ball home from close in after some good build up play down the right-hand side. The teams went in level at the break, and played a very even second half, with only half chances available for both sides. That was until ten minutes from time, when the visitors finally got back in front. Awarded a free kick at the edge of the area, Seanie Ryan stood up and slammed the ball into the top corner, giving the Park keeper no chance of stopping the shot. Cahir did push forward in the hope of getting the game to extra time, but in the end the visitors held on.
TSDL Youths Report 16th March 2024 Match Reports
TSDL Youths Div 1
Cashel Town 1 – 3 Two Mile Borris
Borris ran out rather easy winners in this league decider with a three goals to one victory at Dixie Currivan Park in Palmershill, Cashel. The visitors started brightly and took an early lead on five minutes when Sean Treacy finished from close range after a great shot was saved but wasn’t held. They doubled their lead in the seventeenth minute with a goal from Tristan Kelly, who finished well after a great passing move cut the home defence apart, to leave themselves in total control. The visitors were well on top and created numerous chances but failed to add to their tally before half time. After the break and playing with the wind, the hosts attempted to get back into the game but failed to take any of the chances that they created. And Borris put the result beyond doubt twenty minutes from the end when they added a third, after being awarded a penalty after a quick break away. Tom Ryan stepped up to slot the resulting spot kick to the net. Cashel, to their credit, continued to press forward and were rewarded for their persistence fifteen minutes from time, with a goal from Ryan St. John, who volleyed in from six yards after a cross from the right. The hosts continued to press, but the Borris defence held firm and ran out deserved winners to take a hard fought Division 1 title.
TSDL Youths Div 1
Cashel Town 1 – 3 Two Mile Bor
Tom Ryan Captain of Two Mile Borris receiving the cup from the League Chairman Liam Clohessehy and Vice Chairman Benny Tynan
The Two Mile Borris Youths League Division 1 Winners
